The high school football playoffs for North Carolina in 2023 have arrived!

This guide provides information on the first round matchups for the 4A West playoffs for readers of HSOT. Each game includes important numbers, key factors for success, and interesting storylines to keep an eye on.

(32) Providence @ (1) Weddington

Weddington has a 9-1 record overall, with a 3-1 record in the Southern Carolina Conference. Providence has a 5-5 record overall, with a 3-3 record in the Southwestern Conference.

Weddington and Providence have faced each other twice, with Weddington winning one game and Providence losing both.

Weddington High School is ranked No. 15 in the HighSchoolOT Statewide Top 25 and No. 6 in the HighSchoolOT 704 rankings. Providence High School is not ranked.

Weddington has a MaxPreps Rating of 43.7, which is higher than Providence’s rating of 12.2.

The MaxPreps Strength of Schedule Rating shows that Weddington (23.2) has a higher rating than Providence (8.1).

Weddington has a higher average of points per game (39.1 PPG) compared to Providence (34.0 PPG).

Providence averages 332.5 yards per game on offense, while Weddington has not recorded any statistics.

Weddington has a lower average of points allowed per game at 12.7 compared to Providence’s average of 22.6.

Despite losing to Marvin Ridge in the last week of regular season, Weddington remains the top seed in the 4A West. As they aim to bounce back, they will face a tough opponent in Providence, who is considered to be the strongest 32-seed in the playoffs. Providence has had a mixed season and will rely on sophomore FBS quarterback prospect Jackson Debe to deliver a strong performance.

The key to Providence’s success will be getting Debe involved in the game. In Weddington’s two losses, their defense struggled against teams that gained over 200 rushing yards. In their last game, Weddington’s defense allowed Marvin Ridge’s quarterback Evan Medders to throw for over 200 yards and rush for 131 yards. If Debe can stretch the defense and open up vertical opportunities, there may be chances for scrambling and gaining yardage.

Reworded: The key to success for Weddington is for the team to bounce back mentally from their unexpected defeat last week and ignore the number “32” next to Providence’s name. Tyler Budge, who has committed to play quarterback for Georgia Southern, should have chances to exploit the Providence defense.

(17) Northwest Guilford @ (16) Chambers

Northwest Guilford has a 6-4 overall record with a 2-3 record in the NAC 6 Conference. Chambers has a 6-4 overall record with a 4-3 record in the Greater Neuse River Conference.

Opponents shared: Not applicable

According to the HighSchoolOT rankings, Chambers is currently ranked as the 23rd top team in the HSOT Top 25 and the 10th top team in the HSOT 704. However, Northwest Guilford did not receive a ranking.

Chambers has a higher MaxPreps Rating (31.7) than Northwest Guilford (18.4).

Chambers has a MaxPreps Strength of Schedule Rating of 16.0, which is higher than Northwest Guilford’s rating of 2.5.

Chambers has an average of 39.3 points per game, which is higher than Northwest Guilford’s average of 31.4 points per game.

Chambers has a higher average total offensive yards per game (412.1 YPG) compared to Northwest Guilford (370.1 YPG).

Chambers has a lower average of points allowed per game (11.8 PPG) compared to Northwest Guilford (14.5 PPG).

The Narrative: After a difficult defeat to Mallard Creek in the eleventh week, Chambers is determined to bounce back against a strong Northwest Guilford squad, who has been on a five-game winning streak. Trenton Cloud, a committed wide receiver for East Carolina, will go head-to-head with a Division I opponent regardless of his placement in the Chambers defense.

Northwest Guilford’s Strategy for Success: In order to win this week, the main focus on offense may need to be on utilizing running back Malique Jones rather than relying on passing plays. Jones, who has recorded 973 yards and 11 touchdowns, has a better chance of success against Chambers’ run defense compared to Northwest Guilford’s passing game against the Cougars’ strong passing defense.

Chambers’ Key to Victory: The Cougars’ loaded secondary of Rondell Carter, Keelan Flowe, Marley Vincent, and AJ Hayes will have to do what they can to limit Cloud and quarterback Tanner Ballou, Northwest Guilford’s all-time leading passer.

Reagan’s score was 25 and T.C. Roberson’s score was 8.

The records are as follows: T.C. Roberson has an overall record of 8 wins and 2 losses, with a conference record of 5 wins and 1 loss in the Mountain 3A/4A Conference. Reagan has an overall record of 4 wins and 6 losses, with a conference record of 4 wins and 3 losses in the Central Piedmont Conference.

Cannot reword.

According to the HighSchoolOT rankings, T.C. Roberson holds the 9th spot in HSOT 828, while Reagan does not have a ranking.

Reagan High School has a higher MaxPreps Rating of 16.8 compared to T.C. Roberson High School’s rating of 16.1.

Reagan has a higher MaxPreps Strength of Schedule Rating (21.6) compared to T.C. Roberson (-0.6).

T.C. Roberson has a higher average of points per game (38.2 PPG) compared to Reagan (29.7 PPG).

T.C. Roberson has a total offense per game of 423.5 yards, which is greater than Reagan’s 283.8 yards.

T.C. Roberson has allowed an average of 9.0 points per game, while Reagan has allowed an average of 32.6 points per game.

Reagan, a member of the highly competitive Central Piedmont Conference, will face T.C. Roberson in Asheville. T.C. Roberson has only given up more than two touchdowns in one game this season. However, Reagan has faced significantly tougher opponents due to their location.

Reagan’s Strategy for Winning: In a recent game, T.C. Roberson suffered a disappointing defeat against A.C. Reynolds. However, they were able to achieve success through their passing game, with 146 yards gained on only 12 attempts. This is due in part to Reagan’s quarterback, Jacob Smith, who is being scouted by FBS teams. Reagan should have confidence in Smith’s abilities to throw the ball, which may prove to be a challenge that Roberson has not faced this season.

The key to T.C. Roberson’s success is their large group of experienced seniors who have been playing together since their sophomore year. This year’s Reagan team is similar to the Rams’ team from a few years ago, with a young group of sophomores leading the way. In order to win, Roberson must play strategically and avoid making costly mistakes or allowing Reagan to make game-changing plays.

The Charlotte Catholic football team will be playing against the Myers Park team, with Charlotte Catholic ranked 24th and Myers Park ranked 9th.

Records: Charlotte Catholic has a overall record of 7-3 with a conference record of 4-2 in the Southwestern Conference. Myers Park has a overall record of 7-3 with a conference record of 5-0 in the South Meck Conference.

Both teams have a record of 1 win and 0 losses against South Mecklenburg.

Charlotte Catholic is ranked 15th in the HighSchoolOT 704, while Myers Park does not have a ranking.

The MaxPreps Rating shows that Myers Park (26.8) has a higher rating than Charlotte Catholic (23.9).

The MaxPreps Strength of Schedule Rating shows that Myers Park (12.7) has a higher rating than Charlotte Catholic (5.2).

Charlotte Catholic’s average number of points per game is 32.8, while Myers Park’s average is 36.7.

The average yards gained per game for Myers Park (354.8) is higher than Charlotte Catholic (306.9).

Charlotte Catholic’s defense only allows an average of 14.2 points per game, which is lower than Myers Park’s average of 16.1 points allowed per game.

Rewritten: In the upcoming game, Myers Park will take on Charlotte Catholic, a team that placed third in a more challenging conference. Both teams have met or surpassed expectations with their new head coaches (Matt Reilly for Charlotte Catholic and Chris James for Myers Park) and are eager to secure their first playoff victory under their leadership.

Charlotte Catholic’s Winning Strategy: To the surprise of long-standing North Carolina high school football supporters, Charlotte Catholic has transformed into a team that utilizes both passing and rushing plays. To secure victory, the Cougars must target Notre Dame tight end recruit Jack Larsen in the center of the field, creating opportunities for successful runs and passes on the outside.

Myers Park’s Winning Strategy: Maintain the error-free style of football that has been consistent throughout the entire season. Quarterback Wendell Thompson has only thrown three interceptions out of 30 touchdown passes, and the team as a whole has only lost four fumbles so far. This level of ball security is crucial during the postseason.

(28) Asheville @ (5) Hough

Hough has a record of 9 wins and 1 loss overall, with a perfect 7-0 record in the Queen City 3A/4A Conference. Asheville has an overall record of 5 wins and 5 losses, with a 4-2 record in the Mountain 3A/4A Conference.

Shared adversaries: Not applicable

According to the HighSchoolOT rankings, Hough is ranked number 8 in the Top 25 and number 4 in the HSOT 704, while Asheville is not currently ranked.

Hough has a higher MaxPreps Rating of 42.6 compared to Asheville’s rating of 2.2.

Hough High School has a higher Strength of Schedule Rating (20.1) compared to Asheville High School (4.7).

Hough has a higher average points per game (39.4 PPG) compared to Asheville (24.9 PPG).

Northwest Guilford has a higher average total offense per game of 355.1 yards compared to Chambers’ average of 231.3 yards.

Hough has allowed an average of 16.5 points per game, while Asheville has allowed an average of 30.3 points per game.

In spite of previous achievements, Hough School has never made it to a state championship game. The team has had high hopes in the past but has not been able to meet them. Surprisingly, this year’s 9-1 Hough team has not received as much attention as previous teams. New head coach Shawn Baker aims to be the one who leads Hough to overcome the obstacles that have held them back for so long.

The key for Asheville to win is to defeat Hough’s offense and control the field position. Hough has an average of 6.8 yards per passing attempt this season, so it’s important to minimize their runs and short passes on first and second downs to force them into third and long situations.

Hough’s Strategy for Success: Use clever tactics and avoid taking on too much. This year’s average Hough team would win this game by a few points.

(21) Cuthbertson @ (12) Porter Ridge

Porter Ridge has an overall record of 8-2 and a conference record of 3-1 in the Southern Carolina Conference. Cuthbertson has an overall record of 6-4 and a conference record of 1-3 in the Southern Carolina Conference.

Porter Ridge has a record of 3 wins and 1 loss against Cuthbertson’s record of 2 wins and 2 losses when facing common opponents.

According to the HighSchoolOT ranking, Porter Ridge holds the No. 13 spot in HSOT 704, while Cuthbertson is not currently ranked.

The MaxPreps Rating shows that Porter Ridge (30.3) has a higher rating than Cuthbertson (13.3).

The strength of schedule rating on MaxPreps shows that Porter Ridge (12.7) has a higher rating than Cuthbertson (10.5).

Porter Ridge has an average of 39.4 points per game, which is higher than Cuthbertson’s average of 18.0 points per game.

Average yards gained per game: Porter Ridge has a higher total (316.8) than Cuthbertson (171.5).

The average points allowed per game for Porter Ridge (19.0 PPG) is higher than that of Cuthbertson (16.4 PPG).

Cuthbertson seeks retribution for their previous 31-0 defeat against Porter Ridge in this first round of the state playoffs, as they meet again in a rematch for the Southern Carolina Conference.

To secure a win, Cuthbertson’s strategy is to minimize turnovers and continue to improve their passing game from the previous match. In the first game, Parker Burke, the senior quarterback, threw for 167 yards, but also had two interceptions.

Porter Ridge’s Key to Winning: Maintain dominance in the line of scrimmage. The offensive line played a crucial role in the team’s first game, allowing for 432 yards of offense.

(20) Cox Mill @ (13) Sun Valley

Sun Valley has a 7-3 record overall and a 1-3 record in the Southern Carolina Conference, while Cox Mill has a record of 5-5 overall and 4-2 in the Greater Metro Conference.

The two teams have each won and lost once against Weddington and Charlotte Country Day.
HighSchoolOT Ranking: N/A

Sun Valley has a higher MaxPreps Rating of 21.5 compared to Cox Mill’s rating of 14.8.

Cox Mill has a higher Strength of Schedule Rating (17.7) compared to Sun Valley (10.5) on MaxPreps.

Sun Valley has a higher average of points per game (28.1 PPG) compared to Cox Mill (23.3 PPG).
Total Offense Per Game: Cox Mill (302.5 YPG), Sun Valley no stats

Sun Valley allows an average of 16.8 points per game, while Cox Mill allows an average of 31.0 points per game.

After a strong start to the season, Sun Valley has experienced a decline in performance, suffering defeats against Weddington, Marvin Ridge, and Porter Ridge. In contrast, Cox Mill initially faced challenges but ultimately finished with impressive victories against favored opponents. As a result, one of the two head coaches, Ryan Smith from Sun Valley or Breon Holmes from Cox Mill, will achieve their first playoff win.

Cox Mill’s Winning Strategy: Recently, Cox Mill has been successful with passing plays led by Jon Bissonnette and D’Omarion Smalls. Sun Valley’s losses have been attributed to their opponents’ successful passing game. Focus on passing as the primary offensive approach.

The key to Sun Valley’s success is to embrace the upcoming season and put the three-game losing streak from the regular season behind them. They should focus on making Cox Mill a more run-oriented team.

(29) North Mecklenburg @ (4) Grimsley

Grimsley’s record is currently 10 wins and 0 losses overall, with a perfect 7-0 record in the Metro Conference. North Mecklenburg has a record of 5 wins and 5 losses overall, with a 4-3 record in the Queen City 3A/4A Conference.

No common opponents.

Grimlsey is currently the top-ranked team in HighSchoolOT’s Top 25, holding the No. 1 spot in both the HSOT 336 and overall rankings. Meanwhile, North Mecklenburg is not currently ranked.

Grimsley’s MaxPreps Rating of 47.6 is higher than North Mecklenburg’s rating of 12.7.

The MaxPreps Strength of Schedule Rating shows that North Mecklenburg (15.8) has a higher rating than Grimsley (7.8).

Grimsley has an average of 36.8 points per game, which is higher than North Mecklenburg’s average of 16.8 points per game.

Grimsley has a higher average total offense per game (448.0 yards) compared to North Mecklenburg (257.1 yards).

The average points allowed per game for Grimsley is 10.5, which is greater than North Mecklenburg’s average of 19.9.

The Situation: Despite being the highest-ranked team in the state, they did not receive a playoff seed that accurately reflects their standing. Furthermore, Grimlsey is scheduled to compete against a team that has faced more challenging opponents and will not be caught off guard by Grimsley’s level of talent.

The key for North Mecklenburg to win is to focus on running the ball effectively and putting pressure on Grimsley to make mistakes.

One of the crucial factors for Grimsley’s success is to maintain a competitive mindset and not underestimate North Mecklenburg. North Mecklenburg has faced tough opponents before and will not be easily intimidated. It is important to prevent junior defensive lineman Chuck House from dominating the game.

A.L. Brown is mentioned in a post by Mooresville with a numerical code of 30.

Mooresville has a perfect 10-0 record, with a 6-0 record in the Greater Metro Conference, while A.L. Brown has a 5-5 overall record and a 2-4 record in the Greater Metro Conference.

Mooresville has a record of 6 wins and 0 losses against A.L. Brown, who has a record of 3 wins and 3 losses when facing each other.

Mooresville is ranked 14th in the HighSchoolOT Top 25 and 5th in HSOT 704, while A.L. Brown is not ranked.

The MaxPreps Rating shows that Mooresville (38.2) has a higher rating than A.L. Brown (7.0).

The MaxPreps Strength of Schedule Rating shows that Mooresville (10.0) has a higher rating than A.L. Brown (6.4).

Mooresville has a higher average of points per game (37.0) compared to A.L. Brown (30.6).

Mooresville has a higher average total offense per game (375.0 yards) compared to A.L. Brown (345.0 yards).

Mooresville has a lower average of points allowed per game (11.2 PPG) compared to A.L. Brown (24.3 PPG).

The Recap: In a match two weeks ago, Mooresville held off a late comeback by Brown and emerged victorious with a score of 30-20. Now, Mooresville is ranked as the 3rd seed in the state playoffs, while Brown comes in as the 30th seed and will play at Joe Popp Stadium. Will A.L. Brown be able to achieve the same playoff success as they did under Bruce Hardin, now with his son Justin Hardin at the helm?

Brown’s strategy for winning: Prevent the opponent from running and instead, push for more passing plays. In the previous game, Mooresville had a successful rushing game with 298 yards, but their passing game only had a completion rate of 54.5% and resulted in two interceptions.

Mooresville’s Strategy for Success: In their last encounter, the two players who caused the most trouble for Mooresville were Mekhi Herron, a junior running back who had 198 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, and Derick Brazil, a senior wide receiver who had 104 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions. If we concentrate on limiting the impact of these two players, the game should result in a larger point difference.

(19) Mount Tabor @ (14) Davie

Davie has a record of 7 wins and 3 losses overall, with a conference record of 5 wins and 2 losses in the Central Piedmont Conference. Mount Tabor has a record of 6 wins and 4 losses overall, with a conference record of 4 wins and 3 losses in the Central Piedmont Conference.

Davie has a record of 5 wins and 1 loss against Mount Tabor’s record of 3 wins and 3 losses when they have faced each other.

According to the HighSchoolOT Ranking, Mount Tabor holds the 12th spot while Davie is ranked 8th in the HSOT 336.

Mount Tabor has a higher MaxPreps Rating of 24.7 compared to Davie’s rating of 24.1.

The MaxPreps Strength of Schedule Rating shows that Mount Tabor (14.8) has a higher rating than Davie (13.3).

Davie’s average points per game (39.5) is greater than Mount Tabor’s (28.9).

In terms of total offense per game, Davie has a higher average than Mount Tabor, with 453.8 yards compared to 320.6 yards.

Mount Tabor’s defense allows an average of 19.5 points per game, while Davie’s allows an average of 25.9 points per game.

The Scenario: During the regular season, Mount Tabor caused an upset by defeating Davie 35-34 in an exciting game at home. Now, in the first round of playoffs, the two teams will face each other again as the Spartans travel to the War Eagles’ home turf. If this game is anything like their previous encounter, it could be the most anticipated matchup of the weekend.

Mount Tabor’s Strategy for Success: Focus on limiting the performance of Davie’s senior quarterback, Ty Miller. In their previous encounter, Miller dominated with 317 passing yards, three touchdowns, and a 73% completion rate.

Davie’s Strategy for Success: Prevent big plays. In their initial matchup against Mount Tabor, the War Eagles allowed a 52-yard run by Zion Thompson and a 50-yard pass to Shamarius Peterkin. These two plays made up 31% of the total yardage allowed by Davie in the first game. Apart from these significant plays, Davie’s defense performed solidly against the Spartans.

(27) Alexander Central @ (6) Butler

Butler has a record of 8 wins and 2 losses, with a conference record of 6 wins and 1 loss in the SWAC. Alexander Central has a record of 5 wins and 5 losses overall, with a conference record of 3 wins and 4 losses in the Greater Neuse River Conference.
Common Opponents: N/A

Butler High School is ranked seventh in the HighSchoolOT Top 25 and third in the HighSchoolOT 704. Alexander Central is not ranked.

Butler has a higher MaxPreps Rating (12.1) than Alexander Central (7.8).

According to the MaxPreps Strength of Schedule Rating, Alexander Central (8.2) has a higher rating than Butler (-0.6).

Butler has a higher average of points per game (27.5) compared to Alexander Central (18.4).

Butler has a higher average total offense per game (211.0 yards) compared to Alexander Central (197.0 yards).

Butler has a lower average of points allowed per game (18.2) compared to Alexander Central (20.4).

Butler, considered one of the top teams in the state, received an unfavorable playoff seeding due to the RPI formula. Despite their only loss being to 4A East favorite Rolesville, the Bulldogs have been motivated and played with a physical edge all season. Their quest for a state championship begins against Alexander Central, who has only defeated one 4A team this year.

The key to victory for Alexander Central is to play with courage and match Butler’s level of physicality. They should aim to dominate the game and focus on playing a quick and strategic style.

Key to Success for Butler: Avoid a decrease in performance after the previous week. Be strategic in your execution and avoid making uncharacteristic mistakes that could give a less skilled team an advantage.

The Ardrey Kell team played against the West Forsyth team, with a score of 22 to 11.

West Forsyth has a record of 7 wins and 3 losses overall, with a conference record of 5 wins and 2 losses in the Central Piedmont Conference. Ardrey Kell also has a 7-3 record, with 4 wins and 1 loss in the South Mecklenburg Conference.

The two teams have a shared record of 0-1 against Weddington.

West Forsyth is ranked number 7 in the HighSchoolOT ranking of 336 schools, while Ardrey Kell is not ranked.

West Forsyth’s MaxPreps Rating of 30.9 is higher than Ardrey Kell’s rating of 19.0.

The MaxPreps Strength of Schedule Rating shows that West Forsyth (18.7) has a higher rating compared to Ardrey Kell (10.2).

West Forsyth has an average of 37.7 points per game, which is greater than Ardrey Kell’s average of 25.4 points per game.

West Forsyth averages 399.1 yards per game, which is higher than Ardrey Kell’s average of 287.7 yards per game.

Ardrey Kell allows an average of 16.0 points per game, while West Forsyth allows an average of 25.2 points per game.

West Forsyth hopes to recover from their defeat in the Central Piedmont Conference title game against East Forsyth, as they face a challenging Ardrey Kell team. It is difficult to predict the strength of this team within the state.

The key to Ardrey Kell’s success will be focusing their defensive efforts on containing Caman Chaplin, the star senior running back from West Forsyth who has an impressive record of 2,003 yards and 30 touchdowns. With a strong offensive line that includes several Division I prospects, it will take multiple defenders to effectively stop Chaplin.

The key to West Forsyth’s victory is to focus on Ardrey Kell’s wide receiver, Ben Kirsch, as their passing game heavily relies on him. While their offensive yardage may not be impressive, Ardrey Kell has been successful in scoring points through their passing game.

(26) Page @ (7) East Forsyth

East Forsyth has a record of 9 wins and 1 loss overall, with 6 wins and 1 loss in the Central Piedmont Conference. Meanwhile, Page has a record of 5 wins and 5 losses overall, with 5 wins and 2 losses in the Metro Conference.

Shared opponents: East Forsyth has a record of 1 win and 0 losses against Page’s record of 0 wins and 1 loss.

East Forsyth holds the 25th spot in the HighSchoolOT Top 25 rankings and is ranked 5th in the HSOT 336. Page does not have a ranking.

The MaxPreps Rating for East Forsyth (7.8) is higher than the rating for Page (8.1).

The East Forsyth team has a higher Strength of Schedule Rating (13.0) compared to the Page team (10.5).

East Forsyth has an average of 41.0 points per game, which is greater than Page’s average of 18.2 points per game.

East Forsyth has a total offense per game of 436.1 yards, which is greater than 247.9 yards.

East Forsyth has allowed an average of 16.4 points per game, while Page has allowed an average of 23.1 points per game.

East Forsyth is determined to return to the 4A state championship and their journey begins with a local Triad game against Page from Greensboro. Following their defeat to Davie County in week six, the Eagles have since won five consecutive games.

The essential strategy for success on this page is to focus all defensive efforts on preventing junior UNC quarterback recruit Bryce Baker and East Forsyth’s passing game. Baker has achieved an average of 9.9 yards per attempt. While the Eagles’ running game has been effective with 6.3 yards per attempt, it is not as efficient as their passing game.

The crucial factor for East Forsyth to win: Continue their strategies post the defeat against Davie. The team’s turnover rate has been below one per game, and they must maintain this in the playoffs.

(23) Independence @ (10) Lake Norman

Records: Lake Norman with a 9-1 overall score and 5-1 in the Greater Metro Conference, and Independence with a 7-3 overall score and 5-1 in the Southwestern Conference.

Both teams have a record of 1-0 against Hickory Ridge.

The HSOT 704 rankings place Independence at No. 14, while Lake Norman does not have a ranking.

Independence High School has a higher MaxPreps rating of 28.6 compared to Lake Norman’s rating of 25.4.

The Strength of Schedule Rating for MaxPreps shows that Lake Norman (11.1) has a higher rating than Independence (7.7).

PPG for Independence is 44.5, while PPG for Lake Norman is 21.6.
Total Offense Per Game: Independence (361.9 YPG) > Lake Norman (25.1 YPG)

Lake Norman has allowed an average of 15.1 points per game, which is lower than the average of 17.1 points per game allowed by Independence.

Last week, Lake Norman suffered their first defeat of the season and now faces a formidable Independence team in the opening round of the state playoffs.

The key to winning for Independence is to capitalize on the recent defeat of the Lake Norman team. Utilize strong passing plays from quarterback Justin Little (1,872 yards, 23 TDs, 6 INTs) and effective rushing plays from running back Jayden Jones (1,144 yards, 14 TDs) to gain an advantage, making it difficult for Lake Norman to make a comeback.

The key for Lake Norman to win is to not let Independence’s offense, which heavily relies on run-pass options (RPOs), score early on. If the Patriots are able to take an early lead, it will be difficult for the Wildcats’ offense to keep up. The secondary must perform well in coverage so that the rest of the defense can focus on stopping the run options.

(18) Mallard Creek @ (15) Marvin Ridge

Marvin Ridge has a record of 6 wins and 4 losses overall, with a conference record of 2 wins and 2 losses in the Southern Carolina Conference. Mallard Creek also has a record of 6 wins and 4 losses overall, with a conference record of 5 wins and 2 losses in the Queen City 3A/4A Conference.

Both have a record of 1-0 against Hopewell in their previous matches against each other.

According to HighSchoolOT’s rankings, Mallard Creek is ranked 22nd in the HSOT Top25 and 9th in HSOT 704, while Marvin Ridge is not ranked.

Mallard Creek has a higher MaxPreps Rating (31.2) compared to Marvin Ridge (21.7).

The MaxPreps Strength of Schedule Rating indicates that Mallard Creek (23.0) has a higher rating than Marvin Ridge (19.0).

Marvin Ridge has a higher average of points per game (25.3) compared to Mallard Creek (25.2).

Marvin Ridge averaged 349.5 yards of offense per game, while Mallard Creek has no recorded statistics.

Mallard Creek has allowed an average of 11.5 points per game, while Marvin Ridge has allowed an average of 21.5 points per game.

The Narrative: Two well-experienced teams will go head-to-head this weekend in what could potentially be the top game. Located near the South Carolina border, Mallard Creek recently secured a significant victory against Chambers, while Marvin Ridge caused a major upset by defeating 1-seed Weddington. On the field, there will be numerous Division I players present at any moment.

Revised: Mallard Creek’s Winning Strategy: If Mallard Creek can replicate the level of defensive play seen against Independence, Buford (GA), and Chambers, it will be challenging for the Marvin Ridge offense, despite having several Division I players, to achieve success.

Marvin Ridge’s Winning Strategy: Quarterback Evan Medders and his team must capitalize on any openings in the Mallard Creek defense. If Marvin Ridge can gain an early lead, Mallard Creek is unlikely to have the offensive strength to mount a comeback.

(31) Hickory Ridge @ (2) Watauga

Watauga has a record of 10 wins and 0 losses, with a perfect 5-0 record in the Northwestern 3A/4A Conference. Hickory Ridge has a record of 3 wins and 7 losses, with a 3-3 record in the Greater Metro Conference.

No shared opponents.

Watauga High School is ranked No. 24 in the HighSchoolOT Top 25 and No. 3 in the HighSchoolOT 828. Hickory Ridge is not ranked.

According to the MaxPreps Rating, Watauga has a higher score of 25.3 compared to Hickory Ridge’s score of 7.7.

Hickory Ridge has a higher MaxPreps Strength of Schedule Rating (19.4) compared to Watauga (-1.7).

Watauga averaged 45.5 points per game, which is higher than Hickory Ridge’s average of 30.6 points per game.

Watauga’s total offense per game is higher than Hickory Ridge’s, with Watauga averaging 444.3 yards per game compared to Hickory Ridge’s 263.0 yards per game.

The average points allowed per game for Watauga is 22.5, while Hickory Ridge has an average of 43.3 points allowed per game.

Watauga, located in chilly Boone, North Carolina, has received a top seed in the playoffs thanks to the NCHSAA’s RPI formula. They will have the opportunity to defend their home field against Hickory Ridge, who has faced tougher opponents compared to the Pioneers.

The Key to Hickory Ridge’s Success: The team’s offense has not been a concern. Their experienced quarterback, Caden Haywood, must make successful passes to wide receivers Jalen Harris and Dominic Testa in order to stay ahead of Watauga’s strong offense. Falling behind against Watauga is not an ideal position to be in.

Watauga’s Winning Strategy: Continue executing their successful offensive tactics. Hickory Ridge’s defense has faced challenges, particularly against strong opponents. Maintain dominance of the game with running plays and prevent Hickory Ridge’s passing offense from making big plays.

Source: highschoolot.com